Prevalence of Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis in Korea.
- Author:
Kwang Chen PARK
1
;
Dong Ik KIM
;
Sun Joung LEE
;
Byung Boong LEE
;
Chul Hyung LEE
;
Do Yool KIM
;
Jin Seok HEO
;
Yong Il KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Vascular Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea. dikim@smc.samsung.co.kr.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Carotid;
Atherosclerosis;
Stroke;
Endarterectomy
- MeSH:
Amaurosis Fugax;
Atherosclerosis;
Carotid Arteries;
Carotid Artery Diseases*;
Carotid Stenosis;
Cholesterol;
Diabetes Mellitus;
Endarterectomy;
Folic Acid;
Humans;
Hypertension;
Ischemic Attack, Transient;
Korea*;
Medical Records;
Neurologic Manifestations;
Prevalence*;
Retrospective Studies;
Risk Factors;
Smoke;
Smoking;
Stroke;
Ultrasonography
- From:Journal of the Korean Society for Vascular Surgery
1999;15(2):228-233
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of atherosclerotic disease of the extracranial carotid artery in healthy Korean population. METHODS: Eight hundred twenty-five patients without previous history of transient ischemic attack, amaurosis fugax, and/or any neurologic deficit who underwent carotid artery ultrasonography were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into five groups according to the degree of carotid artery stenosis using real-time B-mode high resolution ultrasonography; Group A-normal carotid artery, Group B-below 30% of carotid artery stenosis, Group C-from 31% to 50% of carotid artery stenosis, Group D-from 51% to 70% of carotid artery stenosis, Group E-above 71% of carotid artery stenosis. Medical Records of all patients were investigated for following factors; sex, age, family history, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, HDL- cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TG (triglyceride), HbA-1c (hemoglobin A-1c), and folate. RESULTS: 12.5% of asymptomatic patients have carotid stenosis due to atherosclerosis of extracranial carotid artery. The prevalence of extracranial carotid artery stenosis was as follows; Group B: 2.2%, Group C: 7.0%, Group D: 3.0%. The age, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HbA-1c were significantly higher in Group B, C, D than Group A (P=0.001, 0.016, 0.011, 0.001). The prevalence of diabetes and hypertension were significantly higher in Group B, C, D than Group A. Other factors, however, were not different among the groups. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic carotid artherosclerosis is not uncommon in Korea. Carotid ultrasonography would be necessary for patients with hypertension, diabetes, and high serum cholesterol level.
